Beverage dispensing apparatus



July 3, 1962 J. J. RODTH BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31,' 1957 Jagd 4 heets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS. Y

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 31, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

M c o h @A s fo M 9 6 m.. l" l u 0 .n 7 E A TTORNEYS- July 3, 1962 J. J. Room 3,042,265

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5l, 1957 4 Sheets-Shea?l 3 A TTORN YS July 3, 1962 J. J. RODTH 3,042,265

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 3l, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HTTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,042,265 BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Joseph J. Rodth, Swansea, Mass., assignor to The Dane Corporation, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,419 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-146) This invention relates to a beverage or the like dispensing apparatus more particularly designed for the dispensing of such material as hot chocol-ate.

In the dispensing of a beverage it is essential that provision be made for cleaning the apparatus from which the beverage is dispensed.

Heretofore in the use of an apparatus of this character, it has sometimes been necessary to move the apparatus to a sink Where scouring Iand washing may be had, thus requiring a portable apparatus for this purpose. In cases Where the apparatus is not of such a character that it may be transported, then other means are necessary in order that the apparatus be scoured for cleanliness.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus which may be easily cleaned for sanitation purposes.`

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure so that the liquid containing pot may be easily removed for cleaning and inasmuch as this pot is to be -heated and has the liquid drawn therefrom, this general object requires many specific treatments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator within the liquid containing pot which may be driven by magnetic means so that it is not necessary to pass a shaft through a wall of the pot and then seal the shaft against leakage and coupled with this object there is the object of providing an agitator which, `although easily removable from the pot, will not drop out of the pot accidently and r become lost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing spigot which will present no problems in removing the pot for cleaning.

'the pot may be easily removed and replaced without disturbing the heating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which will be controlled by the liquid in the pot for either automatically shutting ott operating mechanism or for signalling to an attendant upon the occurrence of some low temperature or low liquid level in the apparatus.

A sti-l1 `further object of the invention is to provide a spigot for dispensing the liquid from the apparatus which may be operated by movement in either direction and which will return to inoperative position when disengaged by the person using the same.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view showing the general arrangement of the parts of the apparatus;

FIGURE l2 is a sectional view online 22 of FIGURE l with the pot omitted; Y

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on larger scale of the support upon which the pot is mounted;

FIGURET4 is a sectional view through the forwardA v part kof the dividing Wall upon which the pot support is mounted; c FIGURE 5 is a ysectional view of the pot alone illustrating in dotted line position the agitator and a part ofl the spigot which is removable with the pot from the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the spigot;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the spigot showing its various parts;

FIGURES 8, 9, l0 are sectional views on lines 8--'8, 9 9 and 10-10 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the core of the agitator;

FIGURE l2 is a side elevation of the core;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the agitator;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmental sectional view of the agitator and the drive therefor;

FIGURE 15 is a section on line 15-15 of FIGURE 14.

In proceeding with this invention, I have provided an apparatus which is generally portable but may be set upon a counter with a pot for containing liquid to be dispensed at a sufiicient elevated point sothat a cup or other liquid containing drinking unit may be positioned beneath a spigot to have the liquid gravity fed into the cup or container. A dripA receptacle is usually associated with the portion upon which the cup may rest while the liquid container or pot is easily removable and easily cleaned. I provide an agitator in the pot to be magnetically coupled to a drive outside of the pot so that a drive shaft for the agitator need not pass through the wall of -t-he container. Thus the agitator will be Within the pot and removable with the pot from the apparatus and a provision is made so that this agitator cannot drop out of the pot to become lost While a provision is also made so that the agitator may be manually removed easily from the pot. A further provision is that the spigot will be removed with the pot and may be itself easily manually removed from the pot and disassembled for cleaning. For simplicity of operation the spigot may be moved in either direction by a handle for discharge of the liquid from the container and will be repositioned :into neutral position when manually released. I also i provide a casing about the pot which is so arranged that it snugly engages the pot with a resilient action while permitting the pot to be removedwithout dismantling 'the casing.l I also provide a heat responsive means carried by this casing to contact the pot although not interfering with its removal to indicatea low level of liquid in the pot or some failure of a heating means which means may also automatically shut olf any mechanical operation of parts of the apparatus.

The dispensing apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in dispensing a hot beverage such as a hot chocolate beverage which requires stirring so as to prevent the sediment contents thereof from settling. Such apparatus is shown in the drawings in which v10 designates a housing having a base portion 11 cular inverted traylike member or support 16 extends upwardly from the wall 13 and has a generally triangular "shaped recess 17 extending inwardly from the circular periphery thereof. This member 16 is made of a thin `sheet non-ferrous or non-magnetic material and serves as a shieldto protect moving parts, as a support for the vessel or pot for the beverage and as a limit for the contraction of the sleeve.

The upper edge portion of walls 12 are reduced and form a shoulder 18 to receive a removable cover 12 and toprovide a shortwall portion 19 to which is atktached a ring 20 of Z shape cross section providinga lcircular opening which is surrounded by an annular lip 21 from which there is suspended an axially split cylindrical sleeve 22. The sleeve 22 has an outwardly and downwardly reversely extending rim portion 23 at the upper end thereof and a reinforcing band 24 at the lower edge thereof. The marginal longitudinal free edge portion along the split of the sleeve is bent outwardly at a general Vright angle and provide oppositely disposed lips 25 (see FIGURE 2) which are adapted to engage each other so as to limit the contraction of this sleeve under bias of a plurality of pull springs 26. At the upper portion of .the sleeve spring 26 has one end thereof secured to a pin 27 located on the sleeve at one side of the lips 25 and extends across said lips and is secured at the other end thereof in a similar way to a pin 2,7. At the lower portion the sleeve is contracted through the heater as will be hereinafter described. It will be apparent that in both cases the springs will tend to contract the sleeve and will yield to allow expansion of the sleeve. The rim 23 hooks over the annular lip 21 to suspend the sleeve therefrom with the lower edge thereof extending about the periphery of member 16 in spaced relation therewith.

The sleeve 2.2 is held in proper relation and `against upward axial movement by pull springs 28 each of which is provided at one end thereof with a hook 29 which extends through an opening 30 in wall 13 to be hooked in the lower edge of the sleeve. The other end of the spring is ylikewise provided with a hook 29 which is attached at some convenient location on the base 11.

The beverage container or pot 31 is made of relatively thin stainless steel suiliciently high in nickel to be nonmagnetic and is of cylindrical shape (see also FIGURE and open at the upper end and has a generally flat bottom wall 32. The wall 32 has a generally circular depression or wall 33, the bottom wall 33 of which extends on a downward slant towards the. .center `of the pot from the edge of the bottom wall 32. The wall 33" has an opening 34 therethrough about the marginal edge of which there is detachably mounted a. valve or spigot 35.

rlhe spigot 35 (see particularly FIGURE 7) has a body portion 36 reduced as at 37 and 38 and providing shoulders 39, 4t) respectively. A tapered bore 41 which forms a valve seat extends inwardly from the upper end of the body and intersects with a straight lbore portion 42 which extends to the other end of the body. A circular opening 43 at right angles to the axis of the body and bore extends from the periphery of the body to intersect the tapered bore 41.

The reduced portions of the body 36 extend through the opening 34 in the pot with the shoulder 39 engaging the inclined bottom wall 33 so that its axis is outwardly inclined from the axis of the pot. The reduced portion 37 is screw threaded and is engaged byra .clamp nut 44 to secure the said body to the wall 33 in the known manner, an O-ring seal being positioned between the wall 33 and the nut 44.

A closure plug 45 is rotatably mounted within the 4body 36 and has a head portion 46 of inverted frustro Vconical shape complemental to the walls of the valve seat 41 which it engagesk in liquid tight engagement. A stem 47 extends from the head 45 and passes through 4the bore 42 in rotatable relation therewith and is provided with a reduced portion y48 which -forms opposite shoulders 49, 50. The shoulder 50l has diametrically opposite recesses 51 which Aextend radially from the reduced portion 48. The stem 47 is also provided with oppositely disposed axially extending grooves 52 which are positioned"substantially at right angles to the said recesses 51. A bore 53 extends upwardly through stem 47 and intersects right angularlyA disposed openings 54 which extend radially lto the tapered side of head 46 and in the'plane of opening'43. In the present instance the Vopenings 54 are angularly spaced apart approximately Y 130 .land Veach maybe moved into registry with opening 43 so as 'to provide Vthe wall 33. Y

a passageway leading through The closure plug 45 is` retained in proper relation by means of a retainer collar 55 having a bore 56 with a reduced portion 57 which is of a diameter to have sliding relation on the stem 47. There is provided at the lower end of the collar 55 splines 5S which are diametrically oppositely disposed and extend into thel bore 57 and beneath the lower end of the collar 55. The collar has a seat 59 in the bore 56 for a purpose which will seat 59 in the bore 56 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Prior to assembling the collar 55 on the stem 47, a compression spring 69 in position about said stem to engage the shoulder 40 on the body 36. The collar is next positioned about the stern with the splines 58 positioned in registry with the grooves 52 which will allow the retaining collar to be slid along the stem 36 for the bore 56 to receive the lspring for engagement of the free end thereof with the seat 59. The collar 55 then is moved further along the stem until the splines 58 move free of the inner ends of grooves 52 and in the space between shoulders 49 and 50 which will allow the collar 55 to be turned to move said splines 58 'into registry with and seat in recesses 51 and there be held by the `compression of spring 60.

Upon assembling the spigot in position on the pot 31, the pot may be inserted in the sleeve 22 so as to rest upon the upper side of member 16. The diameter of the pot 31 is made slightly larger than the normal diameter of the sleeve when the same is in contracted relation. The lower edge of the pot 31 is rounded so as to allow the pot to be inserted with a wedgelike action in the sleeve and as the pot is slid inwardly the sleeve will expand against the spring bias thereon. Thus therpot will be frictionally held in good heat transfer relation with the walls of `said sleeve. In inserting the pot 31 within the sleeve 22, the spigot is positioned to be in registry with the recess 17 in member 16.

It will be `seen in FIGURES y1 and 6 the spigot projects on an outward slant from the axis of the pot and is of a'length to extend below the wall 13 which has an opening 61 therethrough through which theV `lower end portion of the spigot passes to position it over the open portion of base 11. This open portion of the base has a dish like depression 62 provided at the upper side there'-` of with a `drainage rack 63 which also serves as a support for cups and the like containers into which the beverage may be disposed.

A handle 64 is provided for moving the closure plug 45 to open and closed relation. The handle has an enlarged head 65 with a bore which receives the stem 47 and is afiixedthereto by a manually operated clamp screw 66.v The handle 64 ext-ends generally in a horizontal piane and may be turned in either direction to move either of openings `54 into registry with the opening 43 as previously described. The handle is manually moved to open relationV and automatically returned to the neutral or closed position in the following manner. A pair of arcuate arms 67 and 68 (see FIGURE 2) are pivotally mounted at ,one end thereof Von a pivot stud 69 (see FIGURE 4) -for free rotation thereabout. The other end of the arms each carry a stationary stud 70 which depends therefrom to pass through a guide slot 71 which extends on an arc whose radius is the axis of the pivot stud 69. The stud 70l carries a roller 72 which depends in the path of movement of the handle 64. VA torsion spring 73 is mounted on pivot 69 and one arm thereof extends to engage a button 74 on arm 67, and the other arm of the spring extends to engage against asimilar button 74 on arm 68. The spring '73 tends to urge the arms `to move inwardly towards each other for the rollers 72 to engage opposite sides of the handle Y64 inrthe neutral position thereof. It will be seen in FIGURE Z that movement of the handle 64 vfrom the central position to the left will through engagement with theroller 72 of arm 67,` cause arm 67 to be moved to the left as shown in broken lines at which position one of thesaid Y openings 54 will be in registry with the opening 43. Upon release of the handle, the arm 67 under urge of spring 73 will return the handle to neutral or closed relation. Moving the handle 64 in the other direction will in a Ilike manner move arm 68 to the right and upon release of said handle, the arm under urge of spring 73 will likewise return the handle to closed position.

As previously stated the agitator for stirring the beverage is driven through a magnetic drive. To this end the agitator designated generally 75 (see 'FIGURES 11 to l5 has a plurality of vanes 76 which are equally spaced and which extend radially from adjacent to the center of the impeller to the outer periphery thereof. The impeller has a magnetic core 77 which may be of any suitable manufacture. In the present instance the core 77 is a disk of a ceramic composition embedding magnetic material which is arranged in a way and so magnetized as to result in pairs of opposite poles extending at right angles to each other and diametrically disposed as indicated in FIGURE 11. The magnetic core 77 has a central bore 78 which is enlarged as at 79. The core 77 is embedded in a rubber or suitable plastic material as by a molding operation so as to provide the vanes 76 above described and completely incase the core with said material. A bearing sleeve 80 Imade of a resilient compressible material is inserted in the bore 78 and has an enlarged diameter 81 to engage in the bore portion 79. The bearing also has an enlarged head 82 which is made slightly larger `than the diameter of bore 78 and which will compress to be passed through said bore 78 and recover to snap over the upper edge of said bore 78 to hold the bearing fastened tothe agitator. The bore through the bearing sleeve has a plurality of -axial extending grooves 83 see FIGURE l5 which lare equally spaced for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The agitator is mounted for free rotation on a stud 84 (FIGURE 14) which is fixed centrally on the bottom wall 32 of pot 31. This stud has a reduced threaded portion 85 which projects through wall 32 and is engaged by a clamp nut 86 which secures the stud in position in a known manner. The free end of the stud has an enlarged tapered head 87 which is made slightly larger than the bore through sleeve 80 the walls of which will yield when positioning the agitator on the stud and which upon the head 87 passing the upper end of the sleeve will recover to expand beneath said head and be returned thereby against removal by a torce equal to its own weight. A hard chrome hearing washer 88 is interposed between the agitator and the wall 32 and on which the agitator revolves. Thus the agitator may be manually removed or positioned on the stud 80 with ease but `will be securely held against removal upon inverting the pot when draining the same. In that the reduced portion of the stud 80 and retaining clamp nut extends beneath the wall 32, a circular depression 89 is provided in the upper wall of member 16 for receiving said depending portions. In some instances I may secure the stud 80 directly to the upper side of wall 32 such as by a Welding operation and in which case the s-aid depression 89 will be omitted.

The agitator is rotated by means of a Imotor 90 which may be secured in an operative position by suspension from said wall 13 by any appropriate means, as by fastening 91 extending through said wall and engaged in one end of the motor so as to hold the same in vertical position. The shaft 92 ofthe motor extends through an opening 93 in wall 13 and has an annular abutment 94 against which a cup spring 95 rest. Amagnet 96 which is of a Itype similar to the magnet core 77 previously described has a bearing 97 made of non-magnetic ymetal positioned on the shaft 92 to rest on the spring 95 and is held therein under bias of said spring by a snap ring fastening 98 engaging in a complemental groove in said shaft. The magnet 96 extends in juxtaposition to the upper wall of member 16 which is made of non-magnetic material, the pot 31 also being of non-magnetic material, so that a strong magnetic field will be had to provide the necessary magnetic coupling between the driver and driven mag'- nets. No ferrous or magnetic material is interposed between the magnetically coupled members and 96.

It will he apparent upon rotation of magnet 96 that when opposite poles of the magnets 96 and agitator come into registry there will be a magnetic coupling between 'the two so that they will revolve together as a unit for the agitator to stir the contents of the pot to mix and prevent the sediment contents of the beverage yfrom settling. It will also be apparent that as the agitator rotates,- liquid will flow through grooves -83 of its bearing and provide a lubricant between the agitator and chrome washer so as to reduce wear of the parts of the agitator in contact therewith.

The beverage is maintained within a safe temperature for serving on demand by means of an electric heater unit 100 which may be of any suitable manufacture which may be thermostatically controlled. In the present instance the heater unit 100 is shown conventionally and may be secured on the outer side of sleeve 22 in heat transfer relation therewith -by a pair of springs 106 attached to pins 107, 107 on the heater which springs also serve to contract the split sleeve and hold it in frictional engagement with the pot.

It is desirable to provide means for indicating when the pot 31 is empty or nearly so. Accordingly, a thermostatic device 101 is mounted on a ilat `spring 102 which is fastened to the sleeve 22. The thermostat 101 `has a temperature detecting portion which extends through an opening 103 in the sleeve 22 fand engages the pot 31 at a predetermined location above the upper edge of heater runit 100 which is in heat transfer relation therewith through sleeve 22. As the contents of the pot 31 is reduced and there is no liquid at the detecting location to pick up heat, the temperature of the pot above the liquid rises; When the pot 31 is empty or nearly so of said contents, the temperature of the wall of the pot will be transmitted thereto through the heating Iunit 100. Thus, the thermostat is set to be activated at said temperature of the pot when nearly empty to excite an electric circuit (not shown) to close the circuit to the heater and open the circuit to the motor and to actuate a signaling circuit (not shown) to set up an alarm or -warning lights to indicate the empty condition of the pot 31. The pot 31 may have a cover 110 with handle 111 thereon for sanitary purposes and to better confine the heat therein.

From the above it may now be seen that I have disclosed a food or beverage dispenser which is of relatively simple construction and in which the elements carried by the food container may be easily removed to facilitate a thorough cleaning of all the parts which come into contact with the food or beverage. It will also be apparent that the sediment contents of a chocolate beverage and the like will be maintained in suspension properly mixed o and ready to be served on demand.

I claim:

1. In a beverage dispensing apparatus having a removable pot for the beverage, a split sleeve surrounding said pot and having frictional engagement therewith, independent resilient means for contracting said sleeve into engagement with said pot, said resilient means being expandable to release said pot and resilient means for restraining said sleeve from axial movement during the removal of said pot from said sleeve.

2. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a housing provided with an annular lip, a pot in said housing for the beverage, a split sleeve surrounding said pot and having frictional engagement therewith, independent resilient means for contracting said sleeve into engagement with said pot, said resilient means being expandable to release said pot, said sleeve having a rim engaging said lip for suspending said sleeve within said housing, and means -connected to said sleeve tending to urge said rim into engagement with Vsaid lip.

3. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a housing, a

removable beverage pot within said housing, Ia split sleeve within said housing `and surrounding said pot, independent resilient means connected to said sleeve for contract ing the same into frictional engagement with said pot, said resilient means being expandable to release said pot and means on said sleeve for limiting the contractions thereof under urge of said resilient means when said pot is removed from said sleeve. Y

4. In a beverage dispensingy apparatus, a housing, a

Aremovable beverage pot within said housing, a sleeve surrounding said pot in heat transfer :relation therewith and having Lan opening therein, La heater element secured to said sleeve, a temperature responsive -device and resilient means secured to said device for mounting the same on said sleeve in a position to extend through said opening and operable for holding said temperature responsive `device in engagement with said pot.

5. In a beverage `dispensing apparatus, a housing, a removable beverage pot within said housing, -a sleeve surrounding said pot in heat transfer relation therewith and having an opening therethrough, a heater element secured to said sleeve at one side of said opening, a temperature responsive device secured to said sleeve adjacent said opening and extending through said opening into engagement with said pot.

6i. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a housing provided with a base portion, a supporting wall `above the base with an opening therethrough, a removable pot within said housing above said wall and at a location to have a portion over said opening, said pot having a spigot secured thereto provided with a stem portion extending through said opening with the free end thereof positioned above said base, and a handle secured to the free end portion of said stem for operating said spigot, said handle being detachably secured to said stem whereby said handle may -be removed from said stem to allow withdrawal of said stem through said opening .for removing said pot from within said housing.

7. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a support, a removable liquid containing pot having a bottom Wall on said support, a hollow vagitator in said pot, ya rotary mein ber beneath said bottom Wall, -a magnetic coupling between said rotary member and agitator, a pin secured on the bottom of said pot, and provided with an enlarged head part, a resilient bearing sleeve mounted coaxially within said agitator, said bearing sleeve having lan inner diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said pin and slightly smaller than the diameter `of said enlarged head part of the pin.

8. lnV a beverage dispensing apparatus, a support, a removable liquid containing pot `on said support, a split casing embracing said pot, said split casing having an opening therein, heat responsive means carried by said casing and protruding through said opening and contacting said pot, and means operable in response to said heat responsive means to control heating of the pot, `and resilient means for drawing said casing about said pot and expandable to release said pot for removing the same from said support and casing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,564 Taylor May 10, 1927 1,650,806 Slaten Nov. 29, 1927 1,836,893 Austin Dec. l5, 1931 2,079,989 Delano May 1'1, 1937 2,423,488 Dowe July 8, 1947 2,559,877 lhle etal July 10, 1951 2,601,319 Norris et al. June 24, 1952 2,745,641 Jacobs May 15, 1956 2,752,123 IDeuschel et al. June 26, 1956 2,851,577 Bolds et al. Sept. 9, 1958 

